Orange to dangle games as carrot to lure Apple fans

Orange is to try and tempt iPhone fans over to its network by offering them games.

It's a promotional pitch: the games will be made available through the iPhone App Store so they can be downloaded by anyone in the UK with the Apple phone.

Orange didn't say whether it will be charging for the titles, but they'll undoubtedly present the downloader with promotional messages designed to encourage him or her to join the fruit-flavoured network.

It promised a wealth of gaming action, including "off-road racing, a selection of card games such as Blackjack and Poker and Playtomo".

Playtomo, in case you're wondering, is Orange's "social gaming service", which gives all phone users free games they can play and then natter about to their pals. It launched yesterday.

Tomorrow will see the debut of Games Zone, a fiver-a-month gaming service offering Orange customers two free games each month and a 20 per cent discount off other games.

Games Zone is also available on a one month free trial to new or upgrading Pay Monthly customers as part of Orange’s new Animal tariff refresh.

The initial Orange iPhone Games selection will be posted by the end of April. ®